【文摘】发现号安全返回

Last Updated Tue, 09 Aug 2005 17:48:34 EDT

The repairs made to the space shuttle Discovery while it was in orbit are the first step toward other missions in the solar system, a returning astronaut said Tuesday.

• INDEPTH: Space

Discovery lands in California Tuesday. (Courtesy: NASA TV)

Discovery's landing completes the first shuttle mission since Columbia's seven astronauts were killed during re-entry in February 2003.

Lightning and rain near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida forced Discovery's crew to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The 14-day mission included an unprecedented¹ spacewalk to remove two pieces of dangling² tiles on the shuttle's heat shield while it was docked at the International Space Station.

Astronaut Steve Robinson was held in place by the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm as he pulled out the pieces, which NASA feared might cause heating problems during re-entry.

As people prepare to explore the moon and Mars, astronauts will need to learn how to make such repairs in orbit, Robinson noted³.

"The first step is to show we could get access, and access is everything," Robinson told a post-flight news conference.

The crew's two major accomplishments⁴ were to get the shuttle flying again and to deliver supplies to build the International Space Station, said Commander Eileen Collins.

Collins said she thought of Columbia's crew every day. "They believed in the space mission, and I know if they're listening to me right now, they would most certainly want us to continue."

Canadian technology indispensable

The crew accomplished⁵ all of their objectives, but Discovery shed insulating foam⁶ from its external fuel tank during liftoff – the same problem that doomed⁷ Columbia. This time, the foam didn't affect the shuttle's safe return.

Shuttle being serviced at Edwards Air Force Base in California, Tuesday.

NASA officials have suspended shuttle flights until they understand the foam problem and fix it. They haven't said when the shuttles will resume flying.

"We're going to try as hard as we can to get back in space this year, because we have a big construction project we're working on, and we need the shuttle to do it," NASA Administrator⁸ Michael Griffin said. "But we're not going to go until we're ready to go."

Bill Readdy, NASA spaceflight chief, praised the Canadian contributions to the mission: robotic arms on the shuttle and station, and an orbiter boom sensor⁹ tipped with laser cameras that inspected for damage while the shuttle was in orbit.

"My compliments to your fellow countrymen up there in Canada for the work that they have done," said Readdy. "They've been with us all along in the return to flight effort and I think they have done a magnificent job."

The astronauts will be reunited with their families in Houston on Wednesday. The shuttle will fly back to its base in Florida on a modified jet at an estimated cost of $1 million US.

1 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

2 dangling   

悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果，那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
• The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上，摇晃着他们的双腿。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

6 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

7 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

8 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

9 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。